Cheap Saracen hybrid

[Tsundere]

Had a rummage through the parts bin, it's going to be a bit of a mix but basically a like for like 3x7 with cantis set up.

I weighed the old and new parts to compare. Here are the results with original parts listed above replacements.

Brakes (Includes pads)
Alivio cantis - 372g
M732 cantis - 310g

Cockpit (Includes bar, shifters, levers and grips)
No name handlebar and Gripshft with integrated brake levers and grips - 605g
Renthal RC30, Deore thumbies, Tektro levers, Ritchey foam grips - 523g

Mechs (front and rear combined)
Alivio - 440g
XT M732, Shimano 600 - 341g

Saddle and post
No name saddle and suspension post - 903g
Turbo saddle, Ritchey post - 585g

Total
Original - 2320g
Replacement - 1759g

So I managed to shed 561g, and there's still the crankset, chainrings, cassette and pedals to go.

The frame weighs 2.9kg and the fork 1.6kg, which isn't bad but this is never going to be a weight weenie build. There's not much I can do with the wheels, I'll be servicing the hubs and changing the tyres so I might gain weight there due to extra grease and wider rubber.

The whole bike minus bag and kickstand originally came in at 13.6kg, I'll be happy with 12.5kg.

 

[CassidyAce]

Obviously this isn't a particularly prestigious bike. It's a mid range hybrid from a firm with a proud history, but had by 1996 lost much of its early magic. The frames were produced using decent enough tubing in factories overseas, and the parts that adorn this model are certainly not held in particularly high regard today. However, the frameset is exactly the same as the top end model, and the chromoly tubing is certainly a few tiers above BSO level.

...

I'm not sure that the frameset is exactly the same as the top end model, not if the catalogue is to be believed: the top two models have 'Chromoly butted custom frame tubes' while the bottom three models have 'Chromoly butted custom main tube'. Whether that makes much difference to the ride quality is anyone's guess. Ironically, though, you'll probably find that a mid-range hybrid, like this, is a faster ride than a more prestigious 26-er.

 

[Tsundere]

I'm not sure that the frameset is exactly the same as the top end model, not if the catalogue is to be believed: the top two models have 'Chromoly butted custom frame tubes' while the bottom three models have 'Chromoly butted custom main tube'. Whether that makes much difference to the ride quality is anyone's guess. Ironically, though, you'll probably find that a mid-range hybrid, like this, is a faster ride than a more prestigious 26-er.

I missed that difference between the tube sets. I'm hoping it'll be a nippy trail bike.